Latch for communication module

ABSTRACT

A communication module includes a printed circuit board, a housing including a left and right sidewall, a top and bottom panel, and a catch pin extending from the bottom panel, the housing enclosing the circuit board and configured to be inserted into and removed from the host device, and a delatch assembly slidably engaged with the bottom panel of the housing, including first and second delatch arms extending underneath the bottom panel of the housing and configured to removably engage with the host device, and a delatch cross-member extending underneath the bottom panel of the housing, including a hooking member configured to selectively engage the catch pin as the delatch assembly slides along the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a Continuation of Ser. No. 15/083,684, filedMar. 29, 2016, titled LATCH FOR COMMUNICATION MODULE, which claims thebenefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional App. No. 62/140,614, filedMar. 31, 2015, both which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to latch mechanisms forcommunication modules.

2. Related Technology

Fiber-optic transmission media are increasingly used for transmittingoptical, voice, and data signals. As a transmission vehicle, lightprovides a number of advantages over traditional electricalcommunication techniques. For example, optical signals enable extremelyhigh transmission rates and very high bandwidth capabilities. Also,optical signals are unaffected by electromagnetic radiation that causeselectromagnetic interference (“EMI”) in electrical signals. Opticalsignals also provide a more secure signal because the opticaltransmission medium, such as an optical fiber, does not allow portionsof the signal to escape, or be tapped, from the optical fiber, as canoccur with electrical signals in wire-based transmission systems.Optical signals can also be transmitted over relatively greaterdistances without experiencing the signal loss typically associated withtransmission of electrical signals over such distances.

While optical communications provide a number of advantages, the use oflight as a data transmission vehicle presents a number of implementationchallenges. For example, prior to being received and/or processed, thedata represented by the optical signal must be converted to anelectrical form. Similarly, the data signal must be converted from anelectronic form to an optical form prior to transmission onto theoptical network.

These conversion processes may be implemented by optoelectroniccommunication modules (hereinafter “communication module” or“communication modules”) located at either end of an optical fiber. Atypical communication module includes a laser transmitter circuitcapable of converting electrical signals to optical signals, and anoptical receiver capable of converting received optical signals intoelectrical signals. The communication module may be electricallyinterfaced with a host device, such as a host computer, switching hub,network router, switch box, or computer I/O, via a compatible connectionport.

In some applications, it is desirable to miniaturize the communicationmodule as much as possible to increase the port density. Generally, portdensity refers to the number of network connections within a givenphysical space, so that a relative increase in the number of suchnetwork connections within the defined physical space corresponds to arelative increase in port density. Because the communication modulesoccupy a significant amount of space on the host device, a higher portdensity may be achieved by reducing the physical space needed for eachcommunication module.

In addition, it is desirable in many applications for the communicationmodule to be “hot-pluggable,” which means that the communication modulemay be inserted and removed from the host system without securing theelectrical power to the communication module or host. In an attempt toaccomplish many of these objectives, international and industrystandards have been adopted that control the physical size and shape ofcommunication modules. Among other things, such standards help to ensurecompatibility between systems and components produced by differentmanufacturers.

Communication modules may be provided in a variety of form factors,depending upon the specific application for which they are needed. Aconsiderable number of industries and applications commonly specify acommunication module designed to be plugged into a corresponding port ofa host device. On one end of the corresponding port is a “right angle”surface-mount connector that fits through a bottom rear end opening ofthe port. The surface-mount connector is also connected to the hostboard. The rear end of the communication module includes a printedcircuit board having a card-edge connector. This card-edge connectormechanically and electrically interfaces with the host signal interface,which includes the aforementioned surface-mount connector as well asassociated high-speed interconnects.

Pluggable communication modules may be furnished in a range of sizes tomeet different specifications. Regardless of their sizes, however, thecommunication modules must be capable of being latched and unlatched tothe port of the host device. If the communication module is not securelyand reliably latched to the port, the card-edge connector of thecommunication module may disengage and disrupt transmission or receptionof the data signal. The communication module should also be capable ofbeing unlatched and removed in the event that the communication modulerequires repair, testing, or replacement.

The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments thatsolve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such asthose described above. Rather, this background is only provided toillustrate one technology area where some embodiments described hereinmay be practiced.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential characteristics of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

Some example embodiments described herein generally relate to latchmechanisms for optoelectronic communication modules (hereinafter“communication modules”).

A communication module may include a printed circuit board that includesan edge connector configured to electrically interface the communicationmodule with a host device that includes a port to receive thecommunication module; a housing that includes a left sidewall, a rightsidewall, a top panel, a bottom panel, and a catch pin that extends fromthe bottom panel, the housing at least partially encloses the printedcircuit board; and a delatch assembly slidably engaged with the bottompanel of the housing. The delatch assembly may include a first delatcharm that extends longitudinally underneath the bottom panel of thehousing; a second delatch arm spaced apart from the first delatch armthat extends longitudinally underneath the bottom panel of the housing;a delatch cross-member that extends laterally underneath the bottompanel of the housing between the first delatch arm and the seconddelatch arm; and a hooking member coupled to the delatch cross-memberand configured to selectively engage the catch pin as the delatchassembly slides along the housing. The first and second delatch arms maybe configured to selectively disengage the communication module from theport of the host device.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by the practice of the invention. Thefeatures and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out inthe appended claims. These and other features of the present inventionwill become more fully apparent from the following description andappended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention asset forth hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify the above and other advantages and features of thepresent invention, a more particular description of the invention willbe rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which areillustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that thesedrawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and aretherefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention willbe described and explained with additional specificity and detailthrough the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of an opticalcommunication system that includes an optoelectronic communicationmodule (hereinafter “communication module”) and host device;

FIG. 2A is a top perspective view of an example port of an example hostdevice;

FIG. 2B is a bottom perspective view of the port of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is a top perspective view of an example communication modulethat includes a housing and a delatch assembly;

FIG. 3B is a bottom perspective view of the communication module of FIG.3A;

FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of the housing of the communicationmodule of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the housing of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of the delatch assembly of thecommunication module of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 5B is a top view of the delatch assembly of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a side view of the delatch assembly of FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is a side perspective view of an alternative examplecommunication module that includes a housing, delatch assembly, and bailassembly;

FIG. 6B is a bottom perspective view of the communication module of FIG.6A;

FIG. 6C is a top perspective view of the housing of the communicationmodule of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6D is a bottom perspective view of the housing of FIG. 6C;

FIG. 6E is a top perspective view of the delatch assembly and bailassembly of the communication module of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6F is a top perspective view of the delatch assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 6G is a top perspective view of the bail assembly of FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a top perspective view of the alternative examplecommunication module of FIG. 6A including a handle;

FIG. 7B is a top perspective view of the delatch assembly and handle ofFIG. 7A; and

FIG. 7C is a top perspective view of the handle of FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8A is a side perspective view of the communication module of FIGS.3A and 3B engaged within the port of FIGS. 2A and 2B; and

FIG. 8B is a side perspective view of the communication module of FIGS.3A and 3B being disengaged from the port of FIGS. 2A and 2B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Particular embodiments of the present disclosure will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrative embodimentsdescribed in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are notmeant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and otherchanges may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of thesubject matter presented herein. The aspects of the present disclosure,as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can bearranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a widevariety of configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplatedherein.

Smaller pluggable communication modules such as the XFP module may besupported by delatch assemblies disposed along the sidewalls of themodule, such as the latch mechanism of U.S. Pat. No. 6,908,323, which isincorporated herein by reference. However, larger communication modules,such as the C form-factor pluggable (CFP) or 400 Gigabyte pluggable(CDP) modules, may be too large and too heavy to be adequately supportedby side-mounted latch mechanisms. The CFP and CDP modules comply withspecifications provided by multi-source agreements (herein, “MSA”),associations of companies that develop specifications for communicationmodules having compatible mechanical and electrical features.Accordingly, a delatch assembly for CFP and CDP modules must provideadequate support of the communication module and permit removal from ahost device while complying within the dimensions defined by the MSA andenabling secure and reliable connectivity to the host device.

At least some larger communication modules utilize thumbscrews as adelatch assembly to facilitate secure engagement of the communicationmodule to a host device. The thumbscrews are typically located one alongeach of two opposite sides of the communication module. Although thethumbscrews provide adequate support for the heavier communicationmodules, accommodating the installation of thumbscrews necessitates areduction in the available space that could otherwise be used to housecircuitry or other more critical electrical or optical components. Usingthumbscrews may also be relatively inconvenient or even difficult for auser, as the screws must be screwed or unscrewed whenever acommunication module needs to be inserted or removed from the hostdevice. Furthermore, securement of the communication modules bythumbscrews may be ineffective at protecting the critical components ofthe communication module against gravitational shock and vibration.

In general, the described embodiments relate to a delatch assemblysuitable for use on an optoelectronic communication module, such as anoptoelectronic transceiver, to releasably secure the communicationmodule within a port of a host device. Moreover, the delatch assemblymay be implemented within communication modules that conform to industrystandards, such as CFP or CDP or other relatively large communicationmodules. Alternatively or additionally, the delatch assembly may beimplemented within communication modules that conform to other industrystandards, such as small form factor pluggable (SFP), SFP+, XFP, orother relatively small communication modules. The delatch assembly maypermit easy insertion and extraction of the communication module by auser, even when the communication module is used in a host device havinga higher-density port configuration than otherwise permitted withcommunication modules that have side-mounted thumbscrews.

According to some aspects, extraction of the communication module may beaccomplished without the use of a specialized extraction tool, and canbe performed without disturbing adjacent communication modules andcables.

Although the disclosed embodiments are described in the context ofoptoelectronic communication modules used in the field of opticalnetworking, it will be appreciated that embodiments may be employed inother fields and/or operating environments where the functionalitydisclosed herein may be useful, such as in the context of electricalcommunication modules. Accordingly, the scope of the describedembodiments should not be construed to be limited to the implementationsand operating environments disclosed herein.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be explained withreference to the accompanying figures.

Reference is first made to FIG. 1, which illustrates a partiallyexploded view of an optical communication system 100 (hereinafter“system 100”), arranged in accordance with at least some embodimentsdescribed herein. The system 100 includes an optoelectroniccommunication module 300 (hereinafter “communication module”) and a hostdevice including a port 200. The host device may be configured toreceive, and operably interact with, the communication module 300, byway of the port 200. The host device may further include, e.g., aprinted circuit board and a heatsink. The heatsink may be positionedover the port 200 so as to dissipate heat generated by operation of thecommunication module 300. The communication module 300 may becommunicatively coupled through the port 200 to the printed circuitboard of the host device. The communication module 300 may include anoptoelectronic transceiver or transponder module or other suitablecommunication module.

Referencing FIGS. 2A and 2B, the port 200, arranged in accordance withat least one embodiment described herein, may be defined by a top panel201A, a bottom panel 201B, a front face 201C, a rear face 201D, a leftsidewall 201E, and a right sidewall 201F, and may be dimensioned to fitsnugly around a housing 301 (see, e.g., FIG. 3A) of the communicationmodule 300 when the communication module 300 (see, e.g., FIG. 3A) isplugged into the port 200, described in further detail below. The toppanel 201A, bottom panel 201B, front face 201C, rear face 201D, leftsidewall 201E, and right sidewall 201F generally define a cavity 203.

The port 200 may additionally include two resilient tabs 204 that mayextend from the bottom panel 201B upward into the cavity 203. Theoperation of the tabs 204 may generally include the tabs 204 resilientlydeflecting downward during insertion and removal of the communicationmodule 300 before returning to extend upward into the cavity 203 andwill be described in more detail below.

Alternatively or additionally, the port 200 may further includeintegrated heatsink springs 205. The integrated heatsink springs 205 maybe configured to bias a heatsink (not shown) downward against a top ofthe communication module 300 to facilitate thermal energy transfer fromthe communication module 300 to the heatsink.

Referencing FIGS. 3A and 3B, the communication module 300 may transmitand receive optical signals over transmission media such as fiber-opticcables (not shown). The communication module 300, arranged in accordancewith at least one embodiment described herein, may include a housing 301(see FIGS. 4A and 4B) and a delatch assembly 310 (see FIGS. 5A-5C).

With combined reference to FIGS. 3A-4B, the housing 301 may include atop panel 301A, a bottom panel 301B, a front face 301C, a rear face301D, a left sidewall 301E, and a right sidewall 301F. The bottom panel301B may define a pair of arm guides 302 or channels configured toslidingly receive delatch arms 311 of the delatch assembly 310 (seeFIGS. 5A-5C) with the housing 301. The bottom panel 301B of the housing301 includes a shelf 318 that faces frontward, e.g., toward the frontface 301C. The arm guides 302 terminate rearward of the shelf 318. Acatch pin 303 (FIG. 4B) may extend outward from the bottom panel 301B.Here and elsewhere in the discussion that follows, terms such asfrontward, front, rearward, rear, upward, top, downward, bottom, andsimilar directional terms may be determined consistent with thedirections implicit in the names of the top panel 301A, the bottom panel301B, the front face 301C, and the rear face 301D.

The communication module 400 may include a printed circuit board (notshown) generally enclosed by the housing 301. An edge connector 304 ofthe printed circuit board may be operably disposed along the rear face301D of the housing 301. The edge connector 304 may be configured toenable communication between the communication module 300 and the hostdevice by electrically interfacing with the host device, e.g., throughan opening or connector of the port 200. More particularly, thecommunication module 300 may receive, from the port 200, one or moreelectrical data signals that are to be transmitted as one or moreoptical signals. Likewise, the communication module 300 may receive datain optical form, and convert and send it to the host device by way ofthe port 200 in electrical form. Various components configured totransmit and receive optical signals (not shown) may be stored withinthe housing 301, such as a receive optical subassembly (“ROSA”) and/or atransmit optical subassembly (“TOSA”).

In addition to the aforementioned components, example implementations ofthe communication module 300 may include optical cable ports 306disposed along the front face 301C of the housing 301, configured toreceive connectors of fiber-optic cables. Examples of fiber-opticconnectors which the optical cable ports 306 may be configured toreceive may include Lucent Connectors (LC), Subscriber Connectors (SC),Multiple-Fiber Push-On Connectors (MPO), or any other fiber-optic cableconnectors.

As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the communication module 300 may include thedelatch assembly 310 slidably coupled to the bottom panel 301B of thehousing 301. With combined reference to FIGS. 3A-3B and 5A-5C, thedelatch assembly 310 may include a pair of delatch arms 311 extendingparallel to one another and connected by a delatch cross-member 313.Each delatch arm 311 may include a ramp 312 configured to interact witha corresponding one of the resilient tabs 204 of the port 200, describedin more detail below. The ramps 312 are sometimes referred to as latchfollower delatching cam features, or some variation thereof. The delatchcross-member 313 may include a hooking member 314 removably coupled tothe delatch cross-member 313 by hooks 317. The delatch cross-member 313may define a hooking slot 315. The hooking member 314 and the hookingslot 315 may be configured to selectively engage the catch pin 303 asthe delatch assembly 310 slides with respect to the housing 301 toconfine sliding motion of the delatch assembly 310 relative to thehousing 301 to a predefined range, described in more detail below. Thedelatch assembly 310 may also include a delatch handle 316 to facilitatethe insertion and extraction of the communication module 300 from theport 200.

In the illustrated embodiment of the delatch assembly 310, the delatcharms 311, the delatch cross-member 313, and the delatch handle 316 maybe formed as a single part. This arrangement may provide the benefit ofreduced assembly cost and increased mechanical robustness. The delatchhandle 316 may include a flat top surface that may also provide asurface for the application of graphic elements to facilitate thecategorization and organization of different communication modules 300.

With respect to the implementations illustrated in the Figures, itshould be noted that such implementations are not intended to limit thescope of the described embodiments. Any other structural arrangementthat is effective in providing functionality comparable to thatimplemented by the above embodiment may alternatively be employed.

For example, FIGS. 6A-6E illustrate alternative embodiments of anoptoelectronic communication module 400 (hereinafter “communicationmodule 400”) including a housing 401, a delatch assembly 410, and a bailassembly 420. The housing 401 (FIGS. 6C and 6D) may include a top panel401A, a bottom panel 401B, a front face 401C, a rear face 401D, a leftsidewall 401E, and a right sidewall 401F. The bottom panel 401B maydefine a pair of arm guides 402 configured to slidingly receive delatcharms 411 of the delatch assembly 410 with the housing 401. The bottompanel 401B of the housing 401 includes a shelf 418 that faces frontward.The arm guides 402 terminate rearward of the shelf 418. A catch pin 403may extend from the bottom panel 401B, a left sidewall pin 404E mayextend from the left sidewall 401E, and a right sidewall pin 404F mayextend from the right sidewall 401F.

The communication module 400 may include the delatch assembly 410 (FIGS.6E and 6F) slidably coupled to the bottom panel 401B of the housing 401.The delatch assembly 410 may include two delatch arms 411 extendingparallel to one another and connected by a delatch cross-member 413.Each delatch arm 411 may define a ramp 412 configured to interact withthe resilient tabs 204 of the port 200 in a similar manner as thedelatch arms 311 with the resilient tabs 204.

The delatch cross-member 413 may include a left bracket 413E thatincludes a left bracket pin 413A and a left bracket slot 413B, and aright bracket 413F that includes a right bracket pin 413C and a rightbracket slot 413D. The left and right brackets 413E, 413F may beconfigured to slidably engage, respectively, the left and rightsidewalls 401E, 401F of the housing 401. The left and right bracketslots 413B, 413D may be configured to receive, respectively, the leftand right sidewall pins 404E, 404F of the housing 401.

The delatch cross-member 413 may include a hooking member 414 and mayfurther define a hooking slot 415, both of which may be configured toselectively engage the catch pin 403 as the delatch assembly 410 slideswith respect to the housing 401, similar to the hooking member 314 andthe hooking slot 315 described above. The hooking member 414 may beremovably secured to the delatch cross-member 413 by hooks 417.

The bail assembly 420 (FIGS. 6E and 6G) may be operably coupled to thedelatch cross-member 413 and configured to facilitate the insertion andextraction of the communication module 400 from the port 200. The bailassembly 420 may include a bail cross-member 421, a left tab 420E thatincludes a left tab slot 420A and a left tab opening 420B, and a righttab 420F that includes a right tab slot 420C and a right tab opening420D. The left and right tab slots 420A, 420C may be respectivelyconfigured to receive the left and right bracket pins 413A, 413C of thedelatch assembly 410. The left and right tab openings 420B, 420D may berespectively configured to receive the left and right sidewall pins404E, 404F of the housing 401, such that the bail assembly 420 mayrotate about an axis of rotation defined by the left and right sidewallpins 404E, 404F.

FIG. 7A illustrates the communication module 400 including a delatchhandle 520 configured to operably couple with the delatch assembly 410in lieu of the bail assembly 420. The delatch handle 520 (FIGS. 7B and7C) may be coupled to the left and right brackets 413E, 413F of thedelatch assembly 410 and may be ergonomically molded to allowcomfortable gripping of the delatch handle 520 as the communicationmodule 400 is inserted into or extracted from the port 200.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may also be made to thecomponents of the aforementioned embodiments without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. For example, the dimensions and/ormaterials of the delatch arms 311, 411 may vary in view of any number offactors, such as the weight of the communication module being supportedthereon or cost considerations. The delatch assemblies 310, 410 may alsohave less or more delatch arms 311, 411 as needed to support thecomponents thereon. Similarly, the dimensions and/or materials of thedelatch handles 316, 520 or the bail assembly 420 may vary in view ofany number of factors, such as the force required to plug and unplug thecommunication module or space considerations. Furthermore, the delatchhandles 316, 520 or the bail assembly 420 may be removably coupled tothe delatch assemblies 310, 410. The bail assembly 420 may also includea resilient element (not shown) to rotationally bias the bail assembly420 toward either of the ends of the left and right tab slots 420A,420C.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5B and 8A, as the communication module 300 isinserted into the port 200, a pushing force applied to the delatchhandle 316 of the communication module 300 may translate into rearwardlinear movement of the delatch assembly 310 with respect to the housing301. The hooking slot 315 may contact the catch pin 303 as the delatchassembly 310 slides rearward along the arm guides 302 with respect tothe housing 301, whereupon rearward linear movement of the delatchassembly 310 may translate into rearward linear movement of the entirecommunication module 300. Alternatively, the hooking slot 315 may beinitially biased against or otherwise proximate to the catch pin 303such that a sufficiently large pushing force applied to the delatchhandle 316 may immediately translate into rearward linear movement ofthe entire communication module 300. As the communication module 300 ispushed rearward further into the port 200, the ramps 312 may contact anddeflect the upwardly extending tabs 204 of the port 200 downward (e.g.,toward a generally coplanar arrangement with the bottom panel 201B).With sufficient movement of the communication module 300, the ramps 312and the shelf 318 will eventually be positioned rearward of a leadingedge 204A of each of the tabs 204, as illustrated in FIG. 8A. After theramps 312 and the shelf 318 are positioned rearward of the leading edgeof the tabs 204, the tabs 204 may return to (or at least towards) theiroriginal inwardly-directed orientation. Absent operation of the ramps312 to deflect the tabs 204 downward, the tabs 204 generally extend bothinward and rearward to engage the frontward facing shelf 318 and preventthe module 300 from being removed from the port 200. In thisconfiguration, the ramps 312 may be positioned rearward of the shelf318.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5B and 8B, when the communication module 300 isfully inserted within the port 200, a pulling force applied to thedelatch handle 316 of the communication module 300 may translate intoforward linear movement of the delatch assembly 310 with respect to thehousing 301. As the delatch arms 311 slide forward along the arm guides302 with respect to the housing 301, the ramps 312 may contact anddeflect the tabs 204 of the port 200 downward to disengage the tabs 204from the shelf 318, as illustrated in FIG. 8B. The hooking member 314may also contact the catch pin 303 as the delatch assembly 310 slidesforward along the arm guides 302 with respect to the housing 301,whereupon forward linear movement of the delatch assembly 310 maytranslate into forward linear movement of the entire communicationmodule 300 to remove the communication module 300 from the port 200.

Operation of the communication module 400 of FIGS. 7A-7C with thedelatch assembly 410 and the delatch handle 520 is substantially similarto operation of the communication module 300, except that insertion andremoval forces may be applied to and transferred through the delatchhandle 520 of FIGS. 7A-7B rather than the delatch handle 316 discussedabove.

Operation of the communication module 400 of FIGS. 6A-6G with thedelatch assembly 410 and the bail assembly 420 is similar in somerespects to operation of the communication module 300. For example, thecommunication module 400 of FIGS. 6A-6G may be inserted in a generallysimilar manner as the communication module 300, except that an insertionforce may be applied to the front face 401 c, the bail assembly 420,and/or the delatch cross-member 413 to insert the communication module400 of FIGS. 6A-6G into the port 200, rather than applying the insertionforce to the delatch handle 316 as described above.

During removal of the communication module 400 of FIGS. 6A-6G, operationof the ramps 412 may be similar to operation of the ramps 312, exceptthat forward linear movement of the ramps 412 relative to thecommunication module 400 may at least initially be imparted byrotational movement of the bail assembly 420 rather than by forwardlinear movement of the delatch handle 316 as described above. Inparticular, the bail assembly 420 may be rotated clockwise (in the viewof FIG. 6B) about the axis of rotation defined by the left and rightsidewall pins 404E, 404F of the housing 401. With sufficient rotation ofthe bail assembly 420, left and right tab slots 420A, 420C of the bailassembly 420 engage left and right bracket pins 413A, 413C of thedelatch assembly 410, at which point further rotation of the bailassembly 420 translates to forward linear movement of the delatchassembly 410 relative to the housing 401. The left and right bracketslots 413B, 413D of the delatch assembly 410 allow the delatch assembly410 to translate forward relative to the housing 401 without engagingthe left and right sidewall pins 404E, 404F, at least within a range oflinear motion of the delatch assembly 410. With the delatch assembly 410translated forward in response to sufficient rotation of the bailassembly 420, the tabs 204 may be disengaged from the shelf 418 (asdescribed in more detail below) to allow removal of the communicationmodule 400 from the port 200 by application of a pulling force to thebail assembly 420.

More particularly, for the communication module 400 of FIGS. 6A-6G withthe delatch assembly 410 and the bail assembly 420 (or for thecommunication module 400 of FIGS. 7A-7C with the delatch assembly 410and the delatch handle 520), as the delatch arms 411 of the delatchassembly 410 slide forward along the arm guides 402 with respect to thehousing 401, the ramps 412 may contact and deflect the tabs 204 of theport 200 downward to disengage the tabs 204 from the shelf 418, similarto the downward deflection of the tabs 204 from the shelf 318 by theramps 312 as illustrated in FIG. 8B. The hooking member 414 may alsocontact the catch pin 403 as the delatch assembly 410 slides forwardalong the arm guides 402 with respect to the housing 401, whereuponforward linear movement of the delatch assembly 410 may translate intoforward linear movement of the entire communication module 400 to removethe communication module 400 from the port 200.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from its spirit or essential characteristics. The describedembodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrativeand not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicatedby the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. Allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are to be embraced within their scope.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication module, comprising: a housingthat includes a first catch mechanism, wherein the housing at leastpartially encloses a printed circuit board and is sized and shaped to bereceived in a port; and a delatch assembly movably engaged with a panelof the housing, the delatch assembly comprising: a first delatch armthat extends along the panel; a second delatch arm spaced apart from thefirst delatch arm; a delatch cross-member that extends between the firstdelatch arm and the second delatch arm; and a second catch mechanismcoupled to the delatch cross-member and configured to selectively engagethe first catch mechanism as the delatch assembly moves along thehousing, wherein the first and second delatch arms are sized, shaped andpositioned to selectively disengage the housing from the port via rampsthat contact and deflect first and second resilient tabs of the portaway from an interference position with the housing during disengagementof the housing from the port.
 2. The communication module of claim 1,the housing comprising a left sidewall, a right sidewall, a top panel,and a bottom panel.
 3. The communication module of claim 2, wherein thefirst catch mechanism comprises a pin that extends from the bottompanel.
 4. The communication module of claim 2, wherein the first andsecond delatch arms extend longitudinally along the bottom panel of thehousing.
 5. The communication module of claim 1, wherein the secondcatch mechanism is a hooking member.
 6. The communication module ofclaim 1, wherein the tabs of the port extend into a cavity defined bythe port and the port includes one or more integrated heatsink springsconfigured to bias a heatsink of the host device downward against thehousing when the housing is engaged within the port.
 7. Thecommunication module of claim 1, the delatch assembly further comprisinga delatch handle extending from the delatch cross-member.
 8. Thecommunication module of claim 1, wherein the bottom panel of the housingincludes a shelf that faces toward a front face of the housing.
 9. Thecommunication module of claim 8, wherein the tabs of the port engage theshelf to prevent the housing from being removed from the port when theport is engaged with the housing.
 10. The communication module of claim9, wherein the ramps deflect the tabs of the port to disengage the tabsof the port from the shelf during disengagement of the housing from theport.
 11. The communication module of claim 1, wherein the bottom panelof the housing includes a shelf that faces toward a front face of thehousing.
 12. The communication module of claim 11, wherein the tab ofthe port engages the shelf to prevent the housing from being removedfrom the port when the port is engaged with the housing.
 13. Thecommunication module of claim 12, wherein the ramp deflects the tab ofthe port to disengage the tab of the port from the shelf duringdisengagement of the housing from the port.
 14. A communication module,comprising: a housing that includes a first catch mechanism, the housingsized and shaped to be received in a port; and a delatch assemblymoveably engaged with the housing, the delatch assembly comprising: afirst delatch arm that extends along at least a portion of the housing;a second delatch arm spaced apart from the first delatch arm thatextends at least a portion of the housing; a delatch cross-member thatextends between the first delatch arm and the second delatch arm; and asecond catch mechanism coupled to the delatch cross-member andconfigured to selectively engage the first catch mechanism, wherein: atleast one of the first and second delatch are sized, shaped andpositioned to selectively disengage the housing from the port via a rampconfigured to urge a tab of the port away from the housing as thehousing is inserted into or removed from the port.
 15. The communicationmodule of claim 14, the housing comprising a left sidewall, a rightsidewall, a top panel, and a bottom panel.
 16. The communication moduleof claim 15, wherein the first catch mechanism comprises a pin thatextends from the bottom panel.
 17. The communication module of claim 15,wherein the first and second delatch arms extend longitudinally alongthe bottom panel of the housing.
 18. The communication module of claim14, wherein the second catch mechanism is a hooking member.
 19. Thecommunication module of claim 14, wherein the tab of the port extendinto a cavity defined by the port and the port includes one or moreintegrated heatsink springs configured to bias a heatsink of the hostdevice downward against the housing when the housing is engaged withinthe port.
 20. The communication module of claim 14, the delatch assemblyfurther comprising a delatch handle extending from the delatchcross-member.